Bittersweet start to the Delta Tour Zeeland for Rabobank

Rabobank’s start to the Delta Tour Zeeland yesterday was an interesting one. Last year the Dutch outfit made a clean sweep of the opening prologue, taking the first 3 positions. This year, they again topped the podium with Dutch National TT champion Jos Van Emden winning for the second year in a row, while the team placed a total of 4 riders in the top 10.

Sprinters Michael Matthews and Theo Bos finished in fifth and sixth place respectively with Rick Flens six seconds slower than Van Emden in eighth place.

It didn’t all go according to plan, though, when Coen Vermeltfoort fell off the start ramp. His was taken to hospital where it was revealed he had fractured both wrists. According to the Rabobank team website, his left wrist was put in a plaster, while the right one will be operated on next week.

Vermeltfoort, who just returned from the Amgen Tour of California, was bound to start the prologue in rainy conditions. Directeur Sportif Nico Verhoevan commented “After only five meters he fell. At first I thought what is he doing? It seemed Coen tried to jump off the stage. It was very slippery, but as far as I know, Coen was the only one who had problems. It’s very sad. This was a major target for him as well as the Ster Elektro Tour next week.”

Vermeltfoort is in his debut year as a professional after coming through Rabobank’s development program. His best result of the season so far is finishing seventh on stage five of the Amgen Tour of California.

The team will seek to defend its lead with two stages remaining, but expects an onslaught from the in-form Marcel Kittel and Roger Kluge, who both ride for Dutch rival team Skil – Shimano. Kittel and Kluge are second and third in the general classification, both within a second of Van Emden.